September 2025 in “Headache The Journal of Head and Face Pain” The ACP's migraine treatment guidelines are flawed and don't prioritize patient safety.
73 citations
,
January 1980 in “Annals of Neurology” Valproic acid can cause serious side effects, including pancreatitis and even death.
4 citations
,
October 1993 in “PubMed” Valproic acid can cause mild side effects like anorexia and hair loss in some epileptic patients.
294 citations
,
February 1994 in “PubMed” Valproic acid is an effective and safe first-choice treatment for many types of seizures.
24 citations
,
November 1978 in “JAMA” Valproic acid is effective for various seizures, but may cause temporary side effects like drowsiness and stomach issues.
2 citations
,
November 1978 in “JAMA” Valproic acid is an effective seizure medication with some temporary side effects.
April 2025 in “Suez Canal University Medical Journal” Valproic acid can rarely cause fluid buildup around the lungs and heart.
January 2024 in “Specialty journal of Pharmacognosy Phytochemistry and Biotechnology” Genetic factors may influence how well valproic acid works and its side effects in epilepsy treatment.
June 2021 in “Clinical neuropsychopharmacology and therapeutics” Valproic acid can cause hair color change in older men.
1 citations
,
July 2020 in “Acta Neuropsychologica” Valproic acid effectively reduces aggressive and impulsive behaviors in brain injury patients with acceptable side effects.
6 citations
,
March 1986 in “PubMed” Valproic acid can cause weight gain and hair texture changes.
73 citations
,
October 2001 in “Epilepsia” Children taking higher doses of valproic acid had lower biotinidase activity, which may lead to biotin deficiency, but biotin supplements could help.
2 citations
,
September 2015 in “Türk pediatri arşivi : İstanbul çocuk kliniği dergisi” Valproic acid can very rarely cause nail separation, which usually gets better on its own after stopping the drug.
16 citations
,
March 1986 in “Biochemical Pharmacology”
February 2023 in “Indian journal of private psychiatry/Indian Journal of Private Psychiatry” Valproic acid can rarely cause reversible nail discoloration.
13 citations
,
January 2007 in “Epilepsia” Valproic acid can cause reversible hair curling and persistent hair thinning.
April 2023 in “Neurology” Valproic acid is a more effective treatment for vomiting in Alexander disease than other medications, with few side effects.
15 citations
,
May 2006 in “Brain & development” Valproic acid may cause hair loss by reducing biotinidase enzyme activity in rats.
January 2016 in “International journal of clinical pediatrics” Valproic acid may cause temporary hair changes like loss or thinning in children.
36 citations
,
October 2008 in “European journal of paediatric neurology” Valproic acid treatment may cause temporary hair loss due to reduced zinc and biotinidase levels, which tend to normalize after 6 months.
2 citations
,
April 2017 in “Asian Journal of Psychiatry” Valproic acid can cause hair loss when taken orally but may promote hair growth when applied topically.
September 2025 in “Indian Journal of Psychiatry” Valproic acid treatment may cause hair loss due to reduced biotinidase activity.
35 citations
,
August 2004 in “Epilepsy & behavior” Extended-release divalproex is better tolerated and more effective for seizures and psychiatric symptoms than delayed-release divalproex, but doesn't reduce hair loss.
July 2023 in “Assiut Veterinary Medical Journal/Maǧallaẗ Asyūṭ al-ṭibiyyaẗ al-baytariyyaẗ” Antiandrogens help improve developmental delays caused by valproic acid in rats.
20 citations
,
August 1981 in “Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology” 13 citations
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June 1981 in “Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology”
September 2009 in “European journal of paediatric neurology” Biotin supplements did not significantly reduce hair loss in rats on valproic acid.
4 citations
,
October 2015 in “JAAD Case Reports” Surgical grafting may fix nail issues caused by valproic acid.
August 2023 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Valproic acid, a common antiepileptic medication, can cause reversible hair loss in patients.
22 citations
,
September 2008 in “Brain & development” Biotin supplements increased biotin levels but did not significantly prevent hair loss in rats on valproic acid.